Editors Council (Sampadak Parishad) has expressed its utter disappointment over the absence of any step regarding an amendment to the Digital Security Act in parliament.
The law was not amended in the last session of the 10th parliament despite commitment from the government's highest level to this end.
Three ministers earlier said "Scope for further dialogue was not over."
"No effort was made to address the grievances of the journalists and media community," the council said in a statement on Tuesday.
"No step was taken to amend the Digital Security Act in the last session of the 10th parliament held from October 21-29 in 2018," it added.
The council issued the statement following a meeting held on November 19 at The Daily Star Centre with Reazuddin Ahmed in the chair. It also noted with concern that the new law is being used against media persons before the framing of rules that are supposed to govern its use.
"There have also been cases of threats being made against media houses that cases will be filed under the act to prevent them from carrying out their professional tasks."
The council urged all political parties participating in the upcoming elections to incorporate in their respective party's electoral manifestos a pledge to amend it in 11th parliament. The general election is scheduled for December 30.
The council also expressed concern at the widespread use of defamation cases against journalists and editors with intent to harass and prevent them from performing their journalistic functions.
It attracted the attention of magistrates and judges that defamation cases that do not fall under the legal definition of "aggrieved" persons are being accepted by courts.
The law clearly provides that only "aggrieved" persons are entitled to file defamation cases, it cited.
"We earnestly urge that such abuse of the law be immediately stopped and the legal provision be strictly followed in defamation cases," the council said.
The signers of the statement are founding editor of the News Today Reazuddin Ahmed, Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman, Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam, Naya Diganta Editor Alamgir Mohiuddin, Acting Editor of The Financial Express Shahiduzzaman Khan, Manabzamin Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, New Age Editor Nurul Kabir, Acting Editor of Jugantor Saiful Alam, Bangladesh Pratidin Editor Naem Nizam, Dainik Azadi Eiditor MA Malek, Karatoa Editor Md Mozammel Haque, Dhaka Tribune Editor Zafar Sobhan, Independent Editor M Shamsur Rahman, Bonik Barta Editor Dewan Hanif Mahmud and Acting Editor of Samakal Mustafiz Shafi.
